Breeching.



Patented Nov. 5, IBM. F. S. DUBE.

8 B E E0 H l NG.

(Application filed July 17, 1901.)

(No Model.)

llIlllliilllllllllllllllllI' [NVENTOR Ira/27a Sifiure fomey THE Norms Perms co. wow-Limo" wxsums'rmnn. c.

. UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK S. DURE, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

BREECHING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 686,213, dated November 5, 1901.

Application filed July 17,1901, Serial No. 68,652. (No model.)

To aZZwTwm it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK S. DURE, a citizen of the United States, residin g at Wilmin gton, in the county of Newcastle, State of Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harness-Breeching,of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawlngs.

This invention relates to a harness-breeching, and particularly to a structure involving independent separated straps disposed beneath the crupper.

The invention has for its object to improve the breeching-straps that are applied above and below the points of the hip-bone, so that there is no possibility of injury to the horse upon the bone or the flesh adjacent thereto and to assure a broad and movable support at separated points, which prevents the horse from interfering while going rapidly, and if the animal breaks or runs the support of the breeching-straps holds the horse steadily in position ,so that the animal is retained straight in the shafts and prevented from the sidewise movement customary with all young horses at an early stage of their training.

A further object of the invention is to prevent chafing or rubbing by means of a slidable connect-ion of the crupper and the breeching-straps. A stiffening material used in the connecting-straps serves to hold the breeching in position, so that it cannot work up or down upon the buttock of the horse, whereby it does not interfere with the stride or leg motion.

Other objects and advantages of the inven-- tion will hereinafter appear in the following description and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of the invention as applied in use. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the breeching device. Fig. 3 is a similar View of the stiffening-plates, and Fig. 4: is a detail of a modified form for the applicationof an apron to one of the breeching-straps.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawtugs.

The letter A designates the lower breech- -ing-strap, which is formed of leather or other suitable material and supplied with suitable buckles A at each end, by which it may be adjusted to the size of buttock of the horse, and this strap is disposed at or slightly above the position at which a breeching-strap is ordinarily applied. Above the strap A an upper or supplemental breeching-strap B, connected to and supported by the crupper E, has heretofore been employed, and which strap B may be, if desired, likewise supplied with adj listing-buckles B and connected with the strap A by means of braces (l to support strap A. 'lhesebraces are preferably stiffened in any desired manner-for instance, by means of a metallic plate C,which may be disposed between layers of leather and suitably retained therein. By stifiening the braces the breeching-straps are maintained at a proper distance apart, and by pivotally connecting the braces to the breeching-straps a movable support is provided, whereby easy, unrestricted, unimpeded, and independent movementof each hind leg of the horse is assured, and at the same time any liability of the lower breeching-strap to crawl upward is overcome. This movable support is secured by the pivotal connection whether the stiffening-plates be present or not. These braces are preferably pivoted at their lower ends 0 to a plate A carried by the strap A, or may otherwise be pivoted, as found convenient, and the upper ends of the braces are pivoted at C to a conmeeting-strip D, which may also be supplied with a stiffening-plate D, and which strip forms a part or continuation of the upper or breeching strap. The crupper E is provided with a loop E, adapted to slidably embrace the strip D and support the same, while the ends of the straps A and B may be connected to suitable rings F, to which the holdbackstraps F are secured, and the upper end of the crupper E is continued into the back-strap E as usual in harness. The braces O and D tend to hold the straps in their proper separated position, while the connection of the upper strap with the crupper prevents any slipping or downward movement of the straps upon the buttock of the horse, so that when the breeching is once applied it is firmly and positively and yet quite pliably held in position against all undesired movements or'misplacement when in use. It may be stated that while the stiffening-plates D are formed of metal they may be of a flexible or elastic character, so as to be bent into the shape of the animal, or may be stiffened by a more rigid quality of metal, if so desired.

In some classes of harness, particularly those used with a driving-sulky, it is desirable to prevent excrement from falling upon the driver when, as for racing purposes, the horse is hitched very close to the drivers seat. For this purpose a guard or apron G, of leather or other suitable material, is secured to the strip D by means of loops G, secured at one end thereof with any suitable form of fastening-for instance, a clasp or separable button G while each of the braces G has a similar fastening member G adapted to cooperate with a corresponding member G carried one at each side of the apron G. The apron or guard when thus applied permits a free passage of the excrement to the ground and prevents the same from falling upon the driver.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that while the breeching is particularly adapted to have a bearing above and below the hip-bones of the horse the construction and connection of the several parts are such that a certain flexibility, mobility, and automatic adaptation of those parts of the breech ing to the body and legs of the horse in motion is secured and so that no injury of the animal will occur, and his stride or leg motion is left perfectly free. This is important when a horse is being rapidlydriven under a tight rein, which causes the vehicle to be drawn toward the animal and the breeching to be placed under more than usual tension. An important advantage is also secured in the breeching when traveling down a steep grade, as the load or weight is properly and flexibly disposed upon the portion of the horse where it can best be sustained and least interfere with the movement of his legs.

The pivotal connection of the metallic plates 0 between the breeching-straps permits a free movement of the hips of a horse when driving and a relative quasiparallel movement of the breeching-straps toward each other. This pivotal connection permits the necessary rise and fall of the buttocks 0f the horse in the stride or leg motion, and in order to secure a perfectly-fitting breeching it is also essential that provision be made by a slidable or equivalent connection at the crupper for the alternating movement of the buttocks to prevent the slipping of the breeching thereon and the consequent rubbing or chafing against the skin of the animal. It is apparent that a connection embracing the crupper would chafe the tail of the horse, and therefore the preferred connecting of crupper and breeching is one not encroaching upon such portions thereof as come into contact with any portion of the horse. It will also be noted that the stiffening-plates carried by the'breeching-straps extend beyond the pivotal point of connection with the plates 0, so as to form an extended bearing and stiffening for each of the straps.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the details of construction of the several parts Without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, lS-

1. A harness-breeching comprising separated straps adapted to embrace the hipbones of an animal, and pivotally-connected means for retaining said straps in their separated positions; substantially as specified.

2. A harness-breeching comprising separated straps adapted to embrace the hipbones of an animal, pivotally connected means for retaining said straps in their separated positions, and means for supporting said straps against downward movement; substantially as specified.

3. A harness-breeching comprising separated straps adapted to embrace the hipbones of an animal, pivotally connected means for retaining said straps in their separated positions, and means for slidably supporting said straps against downward movement; substantially as specified.

4. A harness-breeching comprising separated straps adapted to embrace the hipbones of an animal, and braces pivotally connecting said breeching-straps; substantially as specified.

5. Aharness-breeching comprisingabreeching-strap adapted to embrace the hip-bones of an animal, a crupper, and means forslidably connecting said strap and crupper; substantially as specified.

6. A harness-breeching comprising separated straps, braces connecting the same, an apron, and means for securing it to one of said straps and for attaching it at other points of the breeching; substantially as specified.

7. A harness-breeching comprising separated straps having cross-bars therein and adapted to embrace the hip-bones of an animal, braces connecting said straps and having a metallic filling, and means for connecting the ends of said cross-bars with said braces, and a crupper connected to one of said cross-bars; substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK S. DURE.

Witnesses:

EDWARD T. PRICE, HERBERT H. WARD. 

